The Earth Anthem

Music and lyrics by Guy Dauncey with help from Dave Ballard

The Earth Anthem (We Are One) has its origins in 2012, when I was writing my new book Journey to the Future, which is set in the year 2032 when Vancouver has become one of the greenest, most sustainable cities in the world.

I was spending a lot of my time visualizing what such a world would be like, and the anthem came to me as I was visualizing a new kind of celebratory gathering that was both spiritual and scientific in nature. The fundamental unity of all existence has been my guiding star ever since I was a teenager, and the lyrics and the tune came to me during my regular Sunday morning long-distance runs, as a musical expression of this unity. I approached David Ballard to help with the arrangement, and I am very grateful both to David, and to the choir at Vancouver’s Canadian Memorial United Church for offering to perform the World Premiere of the Earth Anthem on Earth Day, April 2013.

On this planet that we live on, on this pearl among the heavensOn this tiny floating sphere we call our home,In this paradise of beauty, where all Nature has evolvedFrom the elephants and tigers to the worms that grow the soilOn this wondrous living miracle, this jewel in empty spaceOn this planet where all humans live and dieIt is time for us to wake up, and give ourselves a shake upAnd learn to live together in our home …

ChorusWe are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are living together, andbreathing together, evolving together as one,we are working together, andlearning together, anddancing together as one.In this world we are making,with songs celebrating,with hearts full of music and love,Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

Whatever our colour,Whatever our culturewhatever our sex - we are one,Whatever our histories,and great hidden mysteries,whatever our fears - we are one.May our children all know itand never forget itMay they live long and prosper and love…Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

Chorus

All the worms and the beetles,the bees and the eagles,the flowers and the humans are one.All the forests and oceans,the deserts and farmlands,the rivers and icelands are one.May our Earth be protectedand always respectedand always respected and loved….Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

All the Jews and the Christians,The Hindus and Muslims,The wiccans and pagans are one,All the Great Spirit lovers,The Buddhists and othersThe atheists, Sikhs and Baha’is,We were all born togetherIn the same cosmic weatherOur atoms and spirits are one.Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.In this Universe that made usthat evolved us and forgave us,in this Universe that made us, we are one.

In this Universe that holds usthat creates us and unfolds usIn this Universe that holds us WE ARE ONE.

We are living together, andbreathing together,evolving together as one,we are working together, andlearning together, anddancing together as one.In this world we are making,with songs celebrating,with hearts full of music and love,Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

We are one, we are one, we are dancing in the one,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

Ever since the great beginning,in the love that gave us singing,in the Universe that made us, we are one.

SoloIn this Universe that holds usthat creates us and unfolds usIn this Universe that holds usWE ARE ONE

A BETTER WORLD IS POSSIBLE

Why did you write Journey to the Future? Did you consciously develop the characters, or did they come to you too? There is quite a bit of darkness in the book. Was that deliberate, or did that just happen?

In the realm of energy, the solar revolution has vast potential for long-term impact. Prices have fallen a hundred-fold since the 1970s, and the German Fraunhofer Institute for Solar Energy Systems has predicted that by 2050 solar PV will cost as little as 2 cents/kwh.